NBA Draft preview: Bill Duffy speaks, I’m listening

Checked in with the Walnut Creek-based super-agent the other day, mostly to get a handle on the South Bay’s top only prospect, Santa Clara’s John Bryant.

Duffy, a former SCU player himself, represents Bryant. But he also represents several potential Lottery Picks, including a few who are on the Warriors’ radar:

Arizona power forward Jordan Hill and point guard Brandon Jennings, the former top prospect who skipped college and played in Europe for a year.

I asked Duffy what he thought the Warriors would do Thursday night, and he wouldn’t go there, naturally.

But he did comment on a variety of draft-related topics, including — for you GSW fans out there — Hill and Jennings:

On the economy: “The structure of the NBA is changing. The league is going through the economic turmoil, too. There are reduced roster spots. Instead of carrying 15, teams will carry 13. There’s a shortage of jobs.”

Which means …: “It’s better for a guy in his early years to be playing; if he’s sitting on the bench, he’s not developing. So there are lots of cases where it might be in his best interest to play overseas. We’ve done that extensively, with a good example being Antonio Davis.”

On Bryant: “The things he needs to work on are conditioning and explosiveness. He’s got great hands and timing. With more physical development, I think he has a real shot to play in the NBA.”

(Note: Bryant is considered a borderline draft prospect. He’ll probably end up playing in Europe for a few years.)

On the perception that it’s a guard-heavy draft: “I think that’s accurate. After Hasheem (Thabeet), there’s quite a dropoff to (B.J.) Mullens. I don’t look at Jordan Hill as a big man like Thabeet and Mullens, but if you include him, then it’s Thabeet, then Hill, then Mullens. There just aren’t a lot of big men.’

On Hill: “He’s highly skilled and can play right away, and he shoots the ball better than people think. He rebounds very well, and that translates from college to the NBA. I’d liken him to Antonio Davis, or maybe P.J. Brown, but more skilled.”

On Jennings: “He’s a Rajon Rondo-type talent and he’s well-seasoned from being overseas. He’s lived as a man for a year, and I think the transition for him will be easier than for the kids coming out of college. He’s one of the quickest players in the draft. He and Darren Collison are the best at splitting the double team.”

On UCLA’s Collison (another Duffy client): “We expect him to go in the 20s.”

For my assessment of the top players potentially available for the Warriors, go here.

Hey, since we’ve effectively changed the topic to football, how’s Cal going to handle yet another 9 a.m. kickoff, this one on Sept. 19 at Minnesota? Has Tedford learned his lesson about travel and time zones?